"We Care for Our Residents by Working Together to
Build a Better Community for Today and Tomorrow."
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION on Friday, February 20, 2026
Open Session: 9:00 AM
MEETING LOCATION:
Oxford Suites, Redwood Ballroom 2
67 Golf Course Drive W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The Rohnert Park City Council welcomes your attendance, interest and participation at this special meeting. This meeting will not be televised or broadcasted.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Provides an opportunity for public comment on items listed on this agenda, (limited to three minutes per appearance with a maximum allowance of 30 minutes allotted per comment period, with time limits subject to modification by the City Council in accordance with the adopted City Council Protocols). Speakers are encouraged to complete a Public Comment card and submit it to the Clerk at the time of the meeting. This helps ensure an orderly and efficient meeting, but it is not required.
Members of the public may also provide advanced comments by email at [email protected] Comments are requested by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting, but can be emailed until the close of the Agenda Item for which the comment is submitted. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item Number 2 in the subject line of the email. The emails will not be read for the record but will be provided to Council. Please note that all e-mails sent to the City Council are considered to be public records and subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
City Council/RPFA agendas and minutes may be viewed at the City's website: www.rpcity.org.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Council/RPFA may discuss and/or take action on any or all of the items listed on this agenda. If you challenge decisions of the City Council or the Rohnert Park Financing Authority of the City of Rohnert Park in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at public hearing(s) described in this agenda, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Rohnert Park at, or prior to the public hearing(s).
RIGHT TO APPEAL: Judicial review of any city administrative decision pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5 may be had only if a petition is filed with the court no later than the deadlines specified in Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits the time within which the decision may be challenged to the 90th day following the date that the decision becomes final.
SIMULTANEOUS MEETING COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE (Government Code Section 54952.3): Members of the City Council receive no additional compensation as a result of convening this joint meeting of the City Council and the Rohnert Park Financing Authority.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS: On May 14, 2024, the Rohnert Park City Council adopted the following multi-year broad goals (listed below in no particular order):
1. Long Term Financial Sustainability 3. Planning and Infrastructure
2. Community Quality of Life 4. Organization Well Being
1. CITY COUNCIL JOINT SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL (Adams_____ Giudice______ Rodriguez_____ Elward_____ Sanborn______)
2. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES
A. Public Comments (limited to this agenda item only) - No earlier than 9:00 a.m.
B. Facilitated Workshop on Strategic Priorities
C. Council discussion and direction
3. ADJOURNMENT
NOTE: Time shown for any particular matter on the agenda is an estimate only. Matters may be considered earlier or later than the time indicated depending on the pace at which the meeting proceeds. If you wish to speak on an item under discussion by the Council which appears on this agenda, please refer to page 1 for more details on submitting a public comment. Any item raised by a member of the public which is not on the agenda and may require Council action shall be automatically referred to staff for investigation and disposition which may include placing on a future agenda. If the item is deemed to be an emergency or the need to take action arose after posting of the agenda within the meaning of Government Code Section 54954.2(b), Council is entitled to discuss the matter to determine if it is an emergency item under said Government Code and may take action thereon.
AGENDA REPORTS & DOCUMENTS: A paper copy of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection at City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. Electronic copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to each item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection at
https://www.rpcity.org/city_hall/city_council/meeting_central. Any writings or documents subject to disclosure that are provided to all, or a majority of all, of the members of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda has been distributed will be made available for inspection at City Hall and on our website at the same time. Any writings or documents subject to disclosure that are provided to the City Council during the meeting will be made available for public inspection during meeting and on our website following the meeting.
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Sylvia Lopez Cuevas, City Clerk, for the City of Rohnert Park, declare that the foregoing agenda was posted and available for review on February 18, 2026, at Rohnert Park City Hall, 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California 94928. The agenda is also available on the City website at www.rpcity.org Executed this 18th day of February, 2026, at Rohnert Park, California.
Sylvia Lopez Cuevas
Office of the City Clerk
City of Rohnert Park
City Council Priority
Setting Workshop
February 20, 2026
Oxford Suites, Rohnert Park
9 am to 3 pm
Today’s
Objectives
• Reflection on Vision, Mission, &
Values
• Review Four Broad Goals
• Review Key Department
Accomplishments
• Review Department Work Plans
• Review Priorities for FY 2025-26
• Establish Council Priorities for FY
2026-27
• Strengthen the team
Our Vision, Mission and Values
• Vision: Rohnert Park is a thriving,
family friendly community that is a
safe, enjoyable place to live, work
and play.
• Mission: We care for our residents
by working together to build a
better community for today and
tomorrow.
Values:
• Integrity
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Communication
• Innovation and Creativity
• Collaboration
Reflecting on Our Vision, Mission, and Values
Staff continues implementing vision, mission and
values
Leadership Team recommends retaining existing
vision, mission and values and reinforcing them
Many new staff just now learning our vision,
mission and values – consistency will be important
Adopted Four Broad Goals
5 Long Term
Financial
Sustainability
Provide for long
term financial
health and
sustainability with
sufficient
resources for our
valued community
services.
Community
Quality of Life
Provide for public
safety, develop
the downtown,
address housing
and the needs of
the unhoused,
offer community
enrichment
opportunities, and
foster an overall
high quality of life.
Planning and
Infrastructure
Provide for long
range planning
and wellmaintained
infrastructure,
including facilities,
streets, parks and
utilities.
Organization
Well Being
Be an employer of
choice to attract
and retain talent,
provide for sound
internal systems
to support City
services.
Key
Accomplishments
Departments’ Accomplishments
City Clerk
• Developed and implemented new business
process for contract routing and processing
• Implemented new Commissions, Committees,
and Boards module to streamline process
• Continued professional development
Public Works
• Meet mandated reporting deadlines for utility
and environmental compliance
• Implementation of over $20 million in capital
improvement projects
• Completed mandated Cross Connection
Control Policy Plan
Public Safety
• Developed Acting Sergeants for succession planning
• Filled two vacant Sergeant positions
• Implemented Acting Captains for succession
planning
• Conducted an in-house Engineer Academy
Human Resources
• Concluded labor negotiations with four bargaining
units
• Launched recruitments for over 20 positions, both
regular and temporary
• Expanded health benefit open enrollment
process/health and wellness fair
• Developed a new health benefit premium cost
sharing structure; controlling employee costs
Departments’ Accomplishments - continued
Development Services
• Completed over 4,000 building inspections and over 100 planning inspections
• Completed General Plan 2040, including EIR for public review • Updated various zoning, building, and code compliance codes
• City beautification efforts
• Completed required reports to State (General Plan, Housing Element)
• Awarded $28 million grant from State Homekey+ to
construct 72-unit permanent supportive housing
Finance
• Adopted Balance Budget
• Up-to-date on required financial reporting
• Professional training and cross-training to staff
• Continued education on ERP/Munis product enhancements • Updated Water Rate and Sewer Rate Study
Community Services
• Developed a subsidy program to expand opportunities for youth participation in recreation and performing arts
education program
• Completed three components of a future financial
sustainability policy
City Manager’s Office
• Led Departments in meeting Council’s Strategic Goals & Priorities
• Negotiated Preliminary Term Sheet with CenterCal for
downtown project
• Held Priority Setting Workshop with Council & City staff • Enhanced Emergency Preparedness Efforts
• Updated City’s Website
• Upgraded various IT networks
• Deployed a modern service desk portal to improve issue submission and tracking process for City employees
• Provided administrative support to Rohnert Park Foundation City Manager
Highlights of
Departments’ Key
Work Plan Items
Departments’ Key Work Plan Items
City Clerk
• Records management (training, updates to
policies, reducing paper)
• Preparing for Nov. 2026 election
• Coordinate and host Brown Act training for
Council, Commissions, Committees, and
Boards
Public Works
• Continue implementing capital improvement
projects and deferred maintenance projects
• Continue meeting mandated reporting
deadlines
• Administer newly adopted Cross Connection
Control Policy Plan
• Maintain grant deadlines for awarded projects
Public Safety
• Staff retention and increase staffing
• Prepare 5-Year Strategic Plan
• Replacement of frontline engine 9984
• Start design process for station 2 remodel
Human Resources
• Recruit and onboard four Department
Directors
• Update to City Personnel Rules and
Regulations
• Update labor and employment specific
policies
• Work with CIRA to transition from REMIF
Health Plan to CIRA pool
Departments’ Key Work Plan Items - continued
Development Services
• Fill staff vacancies
• Implement General Plan 2040
• Continue ordinance and code updates
• Update Department website
• Complete Homekey+ project
• Provide required reports to State (General Plan,
Housing Element)
Finance
• Adopt balance budget
• Meet financial reporting schedules
• Continue to improve and establish controls to
minimize financial risk
• Staff training and cross training
Community Services
• Adopt a Financial Sustainability Policy for Parks and Recreation
• Develop and implement a comprehensive social
media plan for Community Services that addresses
the specific needs and goals of each of the three
divisions
City Manager’s Office
• Assist Council in achieving strategic goals &
priorities
• Provide project management for downtown
• Increase communication efforts
• Oversight of implementation of General Plan 2040
• Support Rohnert Park Foundation
• Upgrade various IT networks
• Complete migration to City’s domain to the CA.GOV
extension (per Assembly Bill 1637)
Priorities for FY 2025-26
FY 25-26
Council
Priorities
Downtown
Infrastructure and
Beautification
Emergency
Management
Downtown
Removed several dead trees at
the site per the recently
completed tree study
Approved Preliminary Stage
Term Sheet Negotiations with
CenterCal Properties, LLC
Coordinated three community
meetings to seek feedback on
site plan design and other
important aspects of the
project
Infrastructure &
Beautification
Adopted Parks and Recreation
Master Plan
Completed various capital
improvement projects (ex.
Southwest Blvd; signal
improvements at Laurel Drive
and Petaluma Hill Road; street
resurfacing )
Purchased sewer line camera
inspection vehicle for Public
Works
Updated various building
standards, fire, and code
compliance codes
Approved agreement to install
solar panel canopies at various
City facilities.
Emergency
Management
Developed list of non-profit
resources to support
community in event of
emergency
Held community meetings
Held EOC exercise activation
Attended Emergency
Preparedness Fair at Valley
Village Mobile Home Park
Rohnert Park Foundation
adopted Victim Relief Fund
Policy
Joint “Great Shake Out”
exercise with school district
and City of Cotati
Key Priority Accomplishments
Council Feedback
Do current
priorities
reflect
Council’s
interests?
General Comments About Priorities for the
Coming Year
Current priorities are
still relevant
Strong emphasis on
making progress on the
downtown
Infrastructure is a main
priority (beautification,
city facilities, other)
Proposed
Council Priorities for
FY 2026-27
Establishing Council’s Top Priorities for
the Coming Fiscal Year
Three or Four
For
Focused
Attention
Setting the
City Up for
Success
19 Focus
•Do not take
staff time away
from
established
priorities and
Departmental
work plans
Full Council
Support
•Once decisions
are made,
support them
and the
implementation
involved
Best Practice
Criteria for
Adding
Projects
Mid-Year
20 Emergency
(natural disaster,
pandemic, civil
unrest)
New outside
funding
opportunity that is
time sensitive
New multi-agency
opportunity that
cannot be delayed
Community safety
issue that must be
addressed in near
term
Changes in laws or
mandates
Questions and Feedback
LISTENING BLOCKS
In the book, The Art of Listening, by Jud Morris, he lists what he calls the “10 Non-Building Blocks of Listening.” They are as follows:
Evaluation, Judgment
We are so busy planning our attack or criticizing the other’s message that we often do not hear what is really being said?
Jumping to conclusions
We jump to conclusions, filling in our own details before the other person has had a chance to explain him or herself.
“We’re all the same”
We assume that other people think as we do.
Attitude, the closed mind
We “tune out” people with whom we do not agree.
Lack of attention
We let our minds wander, giving in to other external noises or distractions.
Wishful hearing
We tend to hear just what we want to hear, or expect to hear.
Excessive talking
We interrupt or dominate the conversation so that the other person doesn’t get a chance to adequately express his or her ideas.
Unclear words
We fail to find out what the other person means by the particular words s/he chooses.
Lack of humility
We feel that we must express our superiority by speaking or contradicting the other.
Fear
We avoid listening with understanding because we are afraid that the other person may challenge some long-held belief. We are afraid to be threatened by a new idea.
APPLICATION
Which of the “non-building” blocks do you use? List them and briefly explain.
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Which of the “non-building” blocks does someone you know use when you are talking with him/her? List them and briefly explain. ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Tips for Better Communication
PREREQUISITE #1
Take responsibility for your words and acknowledge the outcomes that ensue from them.
PREREQUISITE #2
Be willing to accept the hearer’s reaction to your words without becoming defensive.
Know what your intentions are.
When communicating with someone, be aware of your intentions in the communication because it will affect the outcome. It is always optimal to start from a place of good will.
Be sure that you and the other person involved in the communication mean the same thing.
Always clarify your understanding before moving on to the next thing. Know when and how to let the other person know what is going on inside you (your inner process).
There are times when it is helpful, even critical, to express what is going on for you, relevant to the interchange.
Respond rather that react to the person with whom you are having the dialogue.
Responding means to speak or act “in response to”; in other words, to answer or acknowledge what has been said, rather than to express an emotional reaction to a communication. Responding instead of reacting is important to effective communication.
Practice active listening.
Active listening is a total involvement in the process of dialoguing with the other person. It means to further communication through clarifying rather than interpreting.